Wednesday - Summer Holiday

Daisy fidgeted with the seam of her t-shirt as she scanned the tiny waiting room from her seat on one of the long brown couches. Miriam had dropped her off, promising to fetch her when she was done. She was luckily alone and for that she was thankful. This was her first visit to the psychologist's office, whereas her previous bi-monthly appointments had been at home.

The white door of the doctor's office suddenly opened, and Daisy's hands balled tightly into fists. She inhaled and turned, expecting to see Dr. Craven. But she was met with a familiar pair of cold, blue eyes.

She was certain her expression mirrored Luke's surprise and shock as he hastily strode past her.

"Daisy?"

Daisy tore her eyes away, jumping to her feet to rush toward the olive-skinned woman who had called her. She quickly ducked inside the office.

"How have you been?" Dr. Craven asked, motioning to one of the large armchairs in the center of the room.

"Good," Daisy breathed, smoothing her t-shirt over her jeans before sitting down.

Dr. Craven slid into the chair opposite, raising a perfectly thin, black eyebrow.
"Do you know Luke?"

"What? No! I mean, no. I mean, I just met him yesterday on the beach." Daisy sputtered.

"You went to the beach?" Dr. Craven asked, a note of surprise in her tone.

Daisy pulled on her bottom lip with her teeth and nodded.

"With your aunt?"

"No," Daisy admitted reluctantly, "with Shawn, a friend."

"Shawn Harrison?"

Daisy nodded.

"Well, this is a good development. How did you meet Shawn?"

Daisy carefully relayed the events from the past few days to Dr. Craven, including the night she met Shawn. The doctor would sometimes, gently, interrupt her to ask a specific question, often scribbling something in her notebook, positioned on her lap atop her bright, floral-printed dress.

Dr. Craven checked her watch and smiled.
"This is very good, Daisy."
She slid forward in her seat, closing her notebook.
"How have you been sleeping?"

"Good," Daisy responded, and Dr. Craven raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, better than usual," Daisy confessed, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, her cell phone in her pocket digging into her hip. "Still can't sleep straight through though. But I don't get up like I used to, and the nightmares are not so frequent anymore."

"When was your last nightmare?"

Daisy thought for a moment, "A month? A month and a half ago?"

Dr. Craven nodded and gave Daisy a beaming smile, before standing up.

"You have been doing extremely well, Daisy. How are you feeling about school starting next week?"

Daisy frowned, "I'm still nervous but excited too. I guess now that I know someone, it helps."

Dr. Craven walked over to her desk and dropped her notebook onto the surface.
"Just remember to take things easy. Mr. Fuller is Shelly Cove High's school counselor and is very nice. He can assist with your transition if you need any help. Don't be afraid to ask for it, Daisy."

Daisy stood up and nodded.

"You should be immensely proud, Daisy. This week has been a turning point for you. And remember, I am just a phone call away, and your aunt is also there."

"I know, thanks, Dr. Craven."

***

Daisy stood frowning on the corner of the street sidewalk in front of the medical building. She had been happy that her hour with Dr. Craven had gone by so quickly, but she was not thrilled about her aunt's text.

She stared at the cell phone in her hand, wishing it read differently.

Aunt Miriam - Emergency at the studio. Follow directions precisely or use the map app. Phone me if you get stuck. See you at the studio.

The studio had not been part of today's plans.

*

Luke stared at Daisy in his rear-view mirror. He had been sitting in his car for over an hour waiting for her to emerge. And now that she has, he was doubting his rationality.

Why had he waited?

He twisted in his seat to look behind his car.

Her obvious distress was clear, and he was oddly bothered by it, more than that she had just been in to see Dr. Craven. For a split second, he hesitated, then shook his head before switching on the ignition, shifting the gears into reverse and slowly driving backward.

The red convertible came to a stop next to Daisy.

"Hey, need some help?"

Daisy's mouth opened then closed when she recognized the driver of the sleek sports car. She turned away, keeping her attention on her cell phone.

Luke's lips curled into a smile. "Well, I did offer."

Daisy's shoulders sagged. She had no idea how to decipher her aunt's instructions or how to activate the app needed.
"Can you, maybe just help me with the app? Please?" She reluctantly turned back to Luke, holding out her cell phone.

Luke took the cell phone and scanned the text before handing it back to her.
"Come on, get in. I'll take you." He leaned over and opened the passenger door for her.

Her eyes narrowed. Their beach conversation was still fresh in her mind. But struggling to locate a place in a town she doesn't know on a hot, summer day was not appealing either.

Daisy swallowed her rebuff and slid into the seat.
"Thanks," she mumbled after securely fastening herself, "just, don't go too fast. Please."

The brief frown on his forehead did not go unnoticed, but it vanished as he shifted the gears into drive.
She balled her hands tightly in her lap, expecting the car to speed into motion. But the tight knot in her stomach eased as Luke slowly cruised down the street.

Daisy shot him a glance. Luke was leaning back lazily, one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting on the gear stick. His golden sun-bleached hair played eagerly in the wind, courtesy of the open roof. The black t-shirt and blue jeans he wore magnificently displayed his athletic build.

He was too good-looking, and he probably knew it.

"Like what you see?" He smirked and Daisy guiltily averted her eyes, focusing on her hands on her lap.

A few minutes later, he stopped the car.
"Here you go."

Daisy inhaled a shaky breath and turned to look at her aunt's art studio and almost immediately her eyes caught the large painted landscape displayed in the window. Her throat closed and her hands scrunched the seam of her t-shirt tightly.

"Hey," the touch on her shoulder made her jump and she swirled around to face Luke.

Whatever emotion had been written on her face had him shifting the gears back into drive and getting the car back into motion and away from the studio.

*

Daisy squeezed her eyes shut, banishing the painting from her mind. She had not been ready.

Will she ever be ready?

She should have texted her aunt and just gone home.

The car stopped again, and she hesitantly opened her eyes to be greeted by her aunt's house.

"You-you took me home?"

Luke shrugged in response and switched off the ignition.

"Thanks, Luke. I- "

"You don't have to explain," he cut her off.

"Still I- "

"Look, I have to be somewhere, so if you don't mind, can you please get out," he brushed her off again.

"Okay," Daisy attempted a half smile, before turning her attention to her seatbelt. For several seconds she fumbled with the strap as it refused to unlock. Panic rose, tightening her chest as one hand pulled, and fingers rapidly pressed the release button.

She froze when a warm hand covered hers and gently moved it aside. With a soft click the seatbelt unlocked and released its hold on Daisy.

"Breathe," Luke instructed, and she inhaled. She had not realized she had stopped breathing in her struggle to get free.

She exhaled, "I don't- I don't like being- "she pulled on her bottom lip with her teeth.

"Trapped?" Luke remarked.

"Yes." She blinked, surprised to find he had moved closer. Her heart started to pound furiously in her constricted chest.

Luke's eyes narrowed as he observed her for a few seconds, his darkened blue eyes searching her face. His gaze moved to roam over her disarrayed wind-swept hair framing her pale face. He leaned in closer and once again, just like on the beach, she inhaled his scent of suntan lotion and peppermint. His face stopped inches from hers before his hand reached around her to open the door.

Daisy hurriedly scrambled out of the car as he returned to his seat.

"Tha-thanks," she muttered, closing the door quickly. She did not dare look back as she rushed towards the porch.

The convertible's engine sprung to life with a smooth rumble, and as Luke reversed, he called to her.
"See you around, Bloom."

*

Daisy's hands trembled as she fumbled to find the front door key under the porch mat. The moment she had it unlocked, she fled inside. The sound of Luke's car had already disappeared in the distance, but his parting words had lingered.

She leaned back against the door. Daisy patted her chest, trying to ease the insane hammering of her heart. Her muscles ached from her semi-panic attack and the rest of her body was in a state of conflicting emotions.

Luke's behavior contradicted what she had thought of him, especially after yesterday's brief interlude.

She cupped her flushed face.

Bloom?

*